SWINDON is on a Government hit-list of areas where curbs on the right to buy a council house will be introduced, it is claimed.

Conservative politicians have accused deputy prime minister John Prescott of planning to extend the initiative already in place to curb right-to-buy schemes in property hotspots in London and the south-east.

And they say the only reason why Swindon has not been included up until now is because of the looming local government elections on May 1.

The claim was made after Julia Drown, Labour MP for South Swindon, urged the deputy prime minister to make it easier to build affordable homes in Swindon.

Ms Drown said: "Abuse of the system is a big issue and there is a risk Swindon could go on this list. For me the discount is not the big issue, though. What I see is people who can't afford homes waiting years and years for houses."

Late last year the Government announced it was slashing the maximum discount on offer from £38,000 to £16,000 in 42 areas of rising house prices.

Swindon Council spokesman, Gavin Calthrop, said: "The office of the deputy prime minister advises us that the Government does not have any current plans to stop the right-to-buy. "